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These past few months have underscored that message. Millions of people have been impacted by the natural and man-made disasters, which have included earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, flooding, and mass shootings.

As we recover or try to help others recover from these incidents, it is also a good time to make sure we are prepared for a disaster if we are directly affected. Most higher education institutions have a disaster recovery plan in place and your financial aid office may have an important role in that plan. Are you familiar with that plan, and does your office have a plan should disaster strike?

You may want to include the answers to these questions in your office disaster recovery plan:

If your office is threatened in some way, do staff members know how to handle the situation?

If you have to leave your office quickly, is there a plan to make sure there are no security risks with papers and information left unattended? Does your office have a "clean desk" policy?

Do you know how to reach your staff members when they are not in the office? In addition to alternative phone numbers and email addresses, do you know how to reach a relative or close friend of other staff?

For you personally, how will you contact other family members in the event of a disaster? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an online brochure with tips for individuals and families.